Hot-spot areas have been identified and the public urged to play their part by reporting the crimes.

Chief Inspector Martin Simms, Head of Unit for the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), said: “The NWCU welcomes the Operation Raptor initiative for Northern Ireland. Focused work to tackle these horrible crimes in hot-spot areas seems to be a logical step forward, as exemplified in Operation Raptor.

“This reflects the approach in the rest of the United Kingdom where ‘hot-spot counties’ have been identified so action can be targeted for a more effective use of resources. Such impactive posters as Operation Raptor will hopefully make people understand the effect of these crimes and the suffering that is caused to such beautiful animals.

“I hope it will encourage people to report such wildlife crime.”

More than 30 protected birds of prey were killed in Northern Ireland in three years, according to a report on wildlife crime published last November.

A golden eagle, white-tailed eagle and peregrine falcons were among the rare species poisoned between 2009 and 2013 although the most common casualties were buzzards and the recently-introduced red kite.

PSNI Wildlife Liaison Officer Emma Meredith, added: “This campaign is a direct result of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) bird of prey persecution and poisoning report released in November 2015 and this campaign is designed to encourage people to report to PSNI and also to warn offenders they could face a prosecution and fine if they are caught targeting birds of prey through poisoning, shooting or trapping.

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland is committed to working with partner agencies to tackle wildlife crime through prevention as well as enforcement, and will continue to work hard to combat wildlife crime.

“The poster will be distributed into local hot-spot areas known to the PAW partners and it is a generic poster which can be used as and when a hot-spot area becomes known anywhere throughout Northern Ireland. PSNI are very thankful to have the partner agencies working closely together to combat this type of wildlife crime.”